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Like any gigantic bureaucracy, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has its own language, its own acronyms and its own jargon. If you’re applying for benefits, or even just searching for information, you’ll have to learn the lingo if you want to successfully navigate the system. By Andrew Lisa See: Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustments Aren’t Enough To Pay Higher Costs for Seniors Find Out: The Biggest Problems Facing Social Security Social Security Speak: Learn These Terms To Maximize Benefits and Avoid Mistakes Beneficiary: The person who receives Social Security payments....

After weeks with no updates, there’s a new development in the ongoing battle around the federal student loan forgiveness program. Last night, Jan. 4, the Biden administration officially filed a legal brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in which they defended the plan to provide relief to 45 million American student loan borrowers. By Selena Fragassi See: Student Loans 2023: Could Side Gigs Be Key To Paying Off Debts?The Future of Finances: Gen Z & How They Relate to Money...

The Internal Revenue Service has added a page that will be updated with special filing season alerts and information for people preparing their tax returns or awaiting processing of a return or refund — as well as the latest updates on IRS letters or notices. By Josephine Nesbit See: Tax Prep 2022: AARP Offers Free Assistance — What Documents Will You Need To Provide? Find: Top Tips for Painless Tax Prep...

You can now trade in your current vehicle for a new Tesla. Just “enter your VIN (vehicle identification number) to receive an estimate for your trade-in,” and you’ll be just one click away from a price, according to the electric vehicle (EV) carmaker’s website. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: 9 Bills You Should Never Put on Autopay Find: 13 Ways To Make $100 in Just a Day Tesla accepts passenger cars, trucks, vans and SUVs for trade-in toward the purchase of a new or used Tesla....

The cost of groceries adds up. In 2019, Americans spent $1.77 trillion on food and beverages in grocery stores. Grocery prices rose 3.5 percent in 2020 due to the pandemic, which was a much higher inflation rate than usual. Shoppers are searching for any chance to score a deal or find groceries at a discount. Here’s a list of places where you can get quality groceries for a lower price. By Sam DiSalvo Misfits Market Imperfect Foods Thrive Market Grocery Outlet ALDI Smart & Final Family Dollar See: 6 Holiday Purchases That You Should Only Make at CostcoFind: 25 Best and Worst Deals at Walmart...

Next year could be a total about-face for the real estate market, say some experts. Housing Wire predicts that lower mortgage rates and more demand could fuel the industry in 2023 if inflation continues to abate and the Federal Reserve eases back on increasing interest rates to curb spending. It’s a trend that’s been developing since late 2022 that has financial experts optimistic about the state of real estate in 2023 if things continue on the same trajectory....

Tax refunds are a big silver lining of enduring winter — but, if you’re expecting a big check in 2023, be prepared to see less than previous years. By Selena Fragassi Experts and even the IRS are warning that tax refund “sticker shock” will happen early next year for 2022 returns because some of the pandemic benefits that padded refund checks expired in the 2021 filing season. That includes the expanded child tax credit, child and dependent care credit and federal stimulus payments....

Taylor Swift has been known to break many chart records and change the game for music artists over the course of her career, but potentially taking down Ticketmaster could be her biggest move yet. By Selena Fragassi See: How Parents Can Make Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras’ Tour a Teachable Financial Moment for TeensFind: What Every Professional Can Learn From Taylor Swift’s Career Evolution “Swifties” have been causing an uproar this week after being prevented from getting tickets to the hottest tour of the year during a presale option on Tuesday, Nov....

The U.S. added 943,000 jobs in July, beating estimates, while the unemployment rate declined to 5.4% — gains mostly driven by the leisure and hospitality industry, local government education and professional and business services. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Ending Unemployment Insurance Did Not Increase Jobs, Early Data Indicates Find: 3 Side Jobs To Consider If You Need Extra Income Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal were expecting 845,000 new jobs in July and unemployment to be between 5....

Whether you’re shopping for back-to-school, everyday household supplies, or even large appliances, you can usually find some good deals at Walmart. By Dawn Allcot Save More: Back-to-School Tips To Help You Cut CostsFind: This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions of Americans Now the big box retailer is offering another incentive to its Walmart+ members – digital rewards shoppers can use toward future purchases. Here’s how it works: First, become a Walmart+ member....

President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Friday instructing the Department of Health and Human Services to explore more ways to lower the costs of prescription drugs, according to an announcement from the White House. By Nicole Spector Social Security: Women Get $354 Per Month Less Than Men – Here’s WhySNAP Benefits: Can You Use EBT Card/Food Stamps To Purchase Hot Food? The executive order mandates that the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) outline, within 90 days, how it will implement new models of care and payment to lower drug costs, a White House official who declined to be named, told Reuters on Friday....

Homeownership is the quintessential American dream — but over the last several decades, it has become less and less affordable. According to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, home prices are rising faster than our incomes. In fact, the national price-to-income ratio sits at 4.4, or 4.4 times a homeowner’s income — the highest point since 2006. By Kelli Francis What It Means Risks of Being House Poor We’re paying a price for this — from struggling to stay in our homes to wondering whether we can afford to buy a home at all....

Although the oldest among them are still in their early 20s, Gen Z is already accustomed to being told how wrong they are about investing and how much they have to learn from their all-wise baby boomer grandparents, their Gen X parents and even their millennial older siblings. By Andrew Lisa Find Out More: Nearly 20% of Gen Z Invest In This Surprising Asset, According To New SurveyTake a Look: The 10 Best Stocks for the Gen Z Investor...

The holiday season is in full swing, which for many families means it’s time to get a Christmas tree. Roughly 21.6 million real trees and 12.9 million artificial trees will be purchased this yuletide season, according to data from Nielsen Research. By Nicole Spector Holiday Spending: Get Top Holiday Shopping and Savings Tips Check Out: Best Dollar Tree Items To Stock Up On for Thanksgiving Thanks to inflation, Christmas trees are much more expensive this year than in previous years, so it’s extra important that consumers know exactly what they’re getting into before buying a live or artificial tree, in order to get the best bang for their buck....

Linda Jeng is the chief regulatory officer and general counsel at the Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI). Jeng is also a visiting scholar on financial technology at Georgetown University Law Center and senior lecturing fellow at Duke Law School. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money Experts Looking To Diversify in a Bear Market? Consider These 6 Alternative Investments Jeng talked to us about why crypto matters and how the space would be better heard “if it were less bombastic” and tried to understand the challenges policymakers face “in a world of few resources and support....

Although the job market has largely bounced back from its pandemic lows, there’s always the possibility of a layoff or job loss. But is this grounds for breaking up with someone? By Gabrielle Olya Keep Reading: 54% of Americans Say Having a Partner in Debt is Cause for DivorceCheck Out: 12 Top Side Hustles You Can Do From Home, According to Career Experts According to a recent survey by TD Bank, most people in relationships say it isn’t — only 11% of Americans consider unemployment to be grounds for a breakup....

Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz recently conducted a study about office culture beyond the pandemic. As expected, the majority of companies planned to move forward with a hybrid model that puts most employees in a central office a few days a week and lets them work remotely the other days. By Andrew Lisa Read: 7 Remote Jobs Gen Z Will LoveLearn: AARP’s CEO Says It’s Time To Rethink Retirement Will that kind of scheduling flexibility endure, or will things slowly start to revert back to the office grind of old?...

Saving can be hard, especially if you find yourself living paycheck to paycheck. By Cynthia Measom “A lot of people struggle to carve out funds from their monthly income to set aside for their savings,” said Baruch Silvermann, CEO and founder of The Smart Investor. “Even saving $20 a week can be a good way to put in place good habits. This is a figure that is achievable for most people and can make a big difference over time....

Chase Home Lending Program Chase is the consumer and commercial banking arm of JPMorgan Chase, a financial institution with a 200-year history and $2.96 trillion in assets under management. As America’s largest bank, Chase provides a full range of consumer financial services, including mortgage loans for your home purchase or refinance. By Daria Uhlig Chase Home Lending Program Mortgage Loans for Homebuyers Mortgage Refinance Loans Fees Competitors Final Take Range of Loan Products...

Federal student loan borrowers whose loans are in default won’t have to worry about having their enhanced Child Tax Credit refunds seized this tax season, easing the minds of millions of borrowers who might have heard rumors that the Department of Education would step in to take its cut. By Vance Cariaga See: Student Loan Forgiveness Plans Stall — What Happens When Moratorium Ends? Find: Top Tips From Millennials Who Have Paid Off Their Student Loans...